We recognize the term “low-tech” is a relative concept. For our purposes, low-tech is being defined as tools that do not require an electronic device to access and use. Low-tech options keep costs low and can be improvised in the spur of the moment in situations where connectivity is limited or learning a new tool isn’t possible. Additionally, implementing low-tech options often reduces the need to guess at what students have access to and can afford.
Faculty and students alike have access to an array of third-party resources. However, searches for quality resources can quickly become overwhelming and cumbersome. Despite the number of options, we must not lose sight of the implications of our choice.
Office hours, when implemented well, can be an essential component to students’ success. In this tip, we will define a multitude of purposes for office hours that can be adapted to fit you and your students’ needs, ways to implement them, and how to communicate expectations to students.